In the spring of 2012, state Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak announced his support for a law designed to crack down on psychological abuse and intimidation in the workplace. "You need to have an environment that is stress-free ... (and) conducive to doing the job that needs to be done," he said at a news conference for the Healthy Workplace Bill, aimed at making it unlawful for a supervisor to bully and harass.

At the same time, several of his female aides were in anguish over the way Gabryszak indulged in sexual comments, inappropriate questions and unwanted social invitations, according to new complaints from three former staffers of the western New York politician.

Young women in Gabryszak's employ at that time and later say he didn't practice what he preached, but instead created a hostile work environment. They want an investigation.

Gabryszak, 62, now faces complaints from three former aides — two from western New York and one from Clifton Park — who worked at his legislative offices, including in the Capitol.

According to their complaints, the married father of two adult children carried on in front of these women in ways that unnerved them and caused them to complain to top legislative aides in the office, who allegedly did nothing.

The three women expect Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to do something. In a notice of claim, they name Gabryszak, the Assembly and the state as respondents in a Court of Claims case. The notice preserves their right to sue within a year.

Contacted by phone Thursday afternoon, the six-year Assembly veteran said he would not discuss the matter at this time. Gabryszak said he had not seen the filing, and still had no comment when a reporter described its contents. He said he did not have a problem with the women involved.

Adam Locher, his chief of staff, also had no comment. Locher was cited by the complainants as ignoring the harassment when the women went to him.

The women say they were forced to quit and lost pay and benefits. In the notice served on the attorney general's office on Thursday, they say they seek remuneration, monetary compensation and a judgment. Their notice says that two more former employees of the assemblyman will soon come forward with similar allegations. The notice was filed by attorney Johnny G. Destino of Niagara Falls.

In the filing and in complaints mailed to Silver, the women describe an office led by an elected official who indulged in sexual innuendo and talked about other women and sex obsessively.

Annalise C. Freling, 28, his former director of communications, said Gabryszak told her that she aroused him sexually, and used obscene language to make a pun on the name of a female assemblywoman in front of staff. He commented about women's anatomy and physical attributes, the complaints say, and often spoke about going to strip clubs. When he asked Freling to retrieve information from his cellphone or iPad, she would find information about escort services or pictures of naked women.

Gabryszak once asked two female staffers for their opinion about the relative sexual value of a woman with nice breasts but an ugly face, and tried to stay on the subject even after the women became uncomfortable and told him to drop it. The complaint describes Gabryszak taking his female staffers on trips but not booking hotel rooms for them, and instead suggesting they stay in his room.

Freling quit her $34,000-per-year job in May after 18 months.

Kimberly Snickles, 26, who took over as Gabryszak's communications director from May to October, complained that her boss took her to a massage parlor in her first two weeks on the job and said to her that he was "more of a butt guy than a boobs guy." Gabryszak also told Snickles that he had a tattoo on his penis, her complaint alleges.

Her pay was about $26,000 and she commuted to Albany for the job. She sometimes went on work trips with Gabryszak and he talked about sharing a room, an offer she declined, her complaint said. At other times, he made her or others the subject of sexually tinged jokes. Snickles said Gabryszak suggested that she and another female staffer wear bikinis to some of his events, and asked if they kissed in the back seat when he drove them to those functions.

Clifton Park resident Jamie L. Campbell, 24, who worked for Gabryszak for three years until October, said the lawmaker seemed to enjoy making female staff members feel uncomfortable and often invaded her personal space, leaning over her while she worked.

A senior legislative analyst who made $21,000 a year, Campbell said Gabryszak was possessive of her and tried to control her by giving her gifts such as purses, necklaces or scarves. He became upset if she declined his requests to socialize with him, making her feel obligated to do things with him away from the office.

Campbell said the Assemblyman seemed unhappy when she became engaged. He told her she didn't need a fiance, and offered her a $100,000 job if she moved to western New York.

Like the other complainants, she said Gabryszak asked sexually explicit questions and once sent a telephone video message showing him in a bathroom stall acting as if he was engaged in a sex act.

The Erie County Democrat represents the densely populated town of Cheektowaga, but was picked by Silver to chair the Rural Resources Committee. That post adds $12,500 to his standard $79,500 legislative salary.